Apparatus for the manufacture of half shades



arch 22, 1949" A. J. EMMENEGGER ,075

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF HALF SHADES Filed June 13, 1947 I 2 Sheets-Sheet '1 j .57 INVENTOR.

' dlmmdei' J Fm/amegyen Hi5 ATwQA H March 22, 15949. A. J. EMMENEGGER 2,465,075

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF HALF SHADES Filed June 13, 1947 ZSheecs-Sheec 2 INVENTOR. Alma/Ida! J Emma/2.9575701? Patented Mar. 22, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF HALF SHADES 4 Claims.

My invention relates to improved apparatus for the manufacture of half shades.

Some types of electric light fixtures, as for example, those employed in kitchens and bathrooms, have a metallic base member which is secured to a sidewall and includes a socket adapted to receive a lamp bulb which extends outwardly in a generally horizontal direction. The complete fixture includes a glass half shade which extends over the upper portion of the bulb and is supported from the base member, the lower face of the shade beng open. As usually constructed, the half shade has a cylindrical neck portion which surrounds the neck of the lamp bulb, while the exterior surface of this portion of the shade has an annular circumferentially extending groove therein which is separated from the end of the shade by an annular radially extending flange. When the shade is in position on the base member securing screws on the base member extend into the groove and engage the flange to hold the shade in position.

It has been customary heretofore to produce glass half shades of the type described by blowing them, then trimming 01f the excess material on the neck and the open face of the shade, and thereafter grinding these surfaces to remove rough portions and sharp edges. It is difiicult and expensive to blow these pieces, and when they are formed by blowing the material in difierent portions of a shade is not of uniform thickness with the result that the shade may be weak and easily broken. In addition, the trimming which must be done on the pieces formed by blowing takes considerable time and is expensive. Furthermore, the grinding which must be done on articles formed by blowing is costly and makes washing of the pieces necessary, while the handling caused by the trimming, grinding and washing results in a substantial amount of breakage, thereby increasing the production cost. It is an object of this invention to provide improved apparatus for the manufacture of half shades which will enable the shades to be produced by pressing.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for forming the half shades by pressing, this means being arranged so that in a single operation a shade is formed in substantially finished condition so that little or no subsequent handling of the piece is required.

A further object of this invention is to prowhich produces a half shade which will replace those made by other methods.

Another object of the invention is to provide for the production of lamp shades of the type described a mold which enables a shade of substantially standard design to be formed complete in a single operation.

Other objects of the invention and features of novelty will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the acconipanying drawings. 1

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a mold having a finished article in position therein;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the lower portion of the mold with a shade in position therein, and

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

The mold illustrated in the drawings includes two separable members, a base I and a cooperating member or cap 2, together with plungers I5 and 35. The bottom of the base I has feet or projections 4 which are adapted to rest on the base plate, not shown, of a glass molding machine or press. The upper face of the base member I has therein an object-forming surface or molding cavity conforming to most of the contour of the exterior of a half shade which is to be produced.

As will be seen from Figs. 1 and 2, the half shade 5 is generally oval longitudinally and is curved transversely so as to be approximately semi-circular in its mid-portion. The half shade is shown in Fig. 1 in an inverted position, and, as shown, the upper face of the main body portion of the shade is open, is substantially in the same horizontal plane throu hout its entire circumference, and except for the side adjacent the neck portion 1, is surrounded by a small outwardly extending bead 6. The right-hand end of the shade 5 is the cylindrical neck portion 1 which is adapted to be received by the lamp fixture. The neck portion has a shallow circumferentially extending groove 8 which is separated from the end of the neck portion by a radially extending flange 9. The neck portion is hollow, while the portion of the body of the shade adjacent the neck I is substantially flat as indicated at I3, as is clearly shown in Fig. 2.

As is best shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings the cavity in the base member l-includes one portion which substantially conforms to the exterior surface of the main body portion of the vide improved means of the type described 5 5 shade, and includes another portion which "substantially conforms to one-half of the circumference of the neck portion of the shade.

The cap member 2 has on the lower face thereof an object-forming surface, a portion of which cooperates with the base member to form the edge of the wall of the main body portion of the shade and to also form the bead 6 around the edge of the shade. Except at the right-hand end of the shade, the line of division between the cap member 2 and the base member is substantially along the center line of the bead 6, as is clearly shown in Fig. 1.

The base member I has a fiat surface which extends radially outwardly from the central mold cavity and extends around the cavity from a plane II at one rear corner of the cavity to plane |2 at the other rear corner of the cavity.

The fiat surface ID, as well as the neck portion of the cavity in the base member, is surrounded by an upwardly extending wall M which is inclined slightly so that the opening within the wall is slightly larger at the top of the wall than at the bottom.

The cap member 2 has a portion which is adapted to be received within and to clozely fit the wall I4 on the base member so as to accurately position the cap and base members with respect to each other, while the lower face of the cap member 2 rests on and tightly engages the surface ID on the base member to prevent glass from being forced between the cap and .base members during the molding operation,

' The portion of the object-forming surface on the lower face of the cap member 2 in the vicinity of the neck of the shade and extending between the planes I I and I2 in Fig. 2, projects downwardly to the center line of the neck portion 1 or we shade as is best shown in Fig. 3. The lower face of this projection has a semicircular recess therein which cooperates with a similar recess in the base member to form the exterior surface of the neck I of the shade and to receive the plunger I5. This projection on the cap member extends into a correspondingrecess in the base member,

"while'the planes II and I2 which form the lines 'of division between the projection on the cap member and the walls of the recess in the base to form the'marginal edge of the shade together make an object-forming surface'which cooperates 'with the cavity in the base member to define the shape of the exterior of the shade.

A circular opening is'provided in the wall of the base member I in alignment with the neck I of a shade 5 in the base member and the plunger I5 is slidably mounted in this opening. The plunger I 5 has an inner'end portion I6 of reduced diameter which is connected'with the remainder 'of the plunger by a curved shoulder portion |9 which cooperates with the recesses in the base *member I and in the projection on the cap memher 2 to provide a cavity of the proper configuration to form the flange 9 on the neck of the shade and to form a rounded edge on the inner surface of the neck of the shade. The inner end portion l6 of the plunger I5 is of such diameter as to be" spaced from the adjacent surfaces on the base :and cap members by an amount such'that the neck of the shade will be of the proper thickness.

"The main body of the plunger |5 closely fits the opening in the base member I in which it is mounted so the plunger I5 is accurately guided and supported. The end of the plunger I5 which projects from the base member I is of somewhat larger diameter than the remainder of the plunger, while the two portions of the plunger are separated by a shoulder II which engages the face of the base member to limit inward movement of the plunger. The end of the plunger |5 which projects from the base member I has a slot 20 therein as is best shown in Fig. 1.

An operating bar 2| is mounted in the slot 20 and is pivotally secured to the plunger I5 by means of a pin 22 which extends through an elongated slot IS in the bar. One end of the bar 2| is pivotally secured by a pin 23 to a member 24 which projects from a lug 26 on the base member I. The other end of the bar 2| is offset toward the base member I and is supported by a member 28 which projects from a lug 29 on the side of the base member Theupper face of the member 28 has thereon projections 39 and 3|. The projection 30 extends only a short distance above the face of the member 28 so that the operating bar 2| may be moved over this projection, but so that the operating bar 2| will engage this projection and hold the plunger [5 in position in the base member. The various parts are arranged and proportioned so that when the operating bar 2| is at the left of projection 30 the plunger I 5 is in its extreme inner position and the flange I7 on the plunger I5 substantially engages the face of the base member The projection 3| extends a substantial distance above the face of the member 28 and serves to limit movement of the operating bar 2| to the right to move the plunger I5 out of the base member. The end of the bar 2| which projects beyond the member 28 forms a handle which is adapted to be grasped by a workman.

The cap member 2 has a central opening therein that is of smaller size than the cavity in the base member and is adapted to receive the plunger 35 which operates to form the interior of the main body portion of the shade. The plunger 35 is adapted to be carried by the head, not shown, of a glass press or molding machine. The plunger 35 has an outwardly extending flange 36 which engages the upper face of the cap member 2 to limit movement of the plunger into the cavity. The opening in the cap member 2 is of such configuration as to closely fit the portion of the plunger 35 adjacent the flange 36 to thereby guide the plunger and prevent flow of glass between the plunger and the cap member.

The face of the plunger 35 adjacent the plunger I5 is substantially perpendicular, as indicated at 31, while the plunger I5 is proportioned so that when the flange I'I engages the face of the base member I, the inner end-of the plunger I5 is very near the surface 31 of the plunger 35.

In the manufacture of a shade the plunger 35 is raised by the glass press out of the cavity in the base member and also out of the opening in the cap member 2. With plunger 35 thus raised, the plunger I5 in its inner position as shown, and the cap member 2 in position on the base member, a suitable quantity of pot glass in a heated pliable state is placed inthe cavity in the base member and'the press is operated to bring the plunger 35 downwardly so thatrthe plunger extends into the cavity in .the base member. As the press moves the plunger 35 downwardly, force may be exerted in any suitable manner on the cap member 2 to hold it in position on the base member I. As the plunger 35 continues its downward movement it presses the gob of glass in the cavity in the base member and causes the glass to fiow throughout the mold recesses to form a shade 5.

When the glass has cooled, the press is operated to raise the plunger 35 out of the base member I and the cap member 2. The operating bar 2| is now moved to the right over the projection 30 and into engagement with the projection 3|, thereby moving the plunger I5 outwardly so that the inner end portion of the plunger I5 is withdrawn from the neck portion 1 of the shade. The cap member 2 is now removed from the base member I, and the base member I is turned over so that the shade 5 falls by gravity from the cavity in the base member. The shade is now sent to a lehr or furnace and after annealing the shade is ready for use.

It will be seen that the mold is arranged to form a shade of irregular configuration with a hollow cylindrical neck portion, and that the mold is arranged so that the finished article can be readily removed. The opening through the neck portion of the shade is formed by the plunger l5 which is withdrawn after the shade has been formed. The exterior of the neck portion of the shade is formed by confronting surfaces on the base and cap members, while the portions of the base and cap members which form the neck of the shade meet at the center line of the neck of the shade so that the cap member may be removed after a shade has been formed and so that the shade may thereafter be removed from the cavity in the base member.

It will be obvious that various changes may be made in the steps of the method described above and in the details of the moldshown in the drawings and described above within the principle and. scope of the invention expressed in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a mold for forming a lamp shade having a body open on one face and curved longitudinally and transversely and having at one end a hollow cylindrical neck which opens into the cavity in the body, in combination, a first mold member having a cavity opening on the upper face of the member, said cavity having a first portion which substantially conforms to the exterior surface of the body of the shade and another portion which substantially conforms to the exterior surface of one half of the circumference of the neck portion of the shade, a second mold member adapted to be secured to the upper face of said first mold member and having on its lower face an objectforming surface adapted to cooperate with the cavity in said first mold member, a portion of the object-forming surface on said second mold member being arranged to form the marginal edge of the shade surrounding the open face of the shade and another portion of the object-forming surface on said second mold member being arranged to form the exterior surface of the other one half of the circumference of the neck of the shade, said second mold member having an opening therein in alignment with the first portion of the cavity in said first mold member, a first plunger which conforms to the shape of the interior of the body of the shade and is adapted to pass through the opening in said second mold member, said first mold member having an opening in the wall thereof substantially in alignment with the neck portion of the cavity in said first mold member and of the object-forming surface on said second mold member, and a second plunger mounted in said opening in the wall of said first mold member and having an inner end portion of the diameter and length of the opening through the neck of a shade, said second plunger being movable between a first position in which said inner end portion is located within the neck portion of the cavity in said first mold member and of the object-forming surface on said second mold member and a second position in which said inner end portion is located outside the neck portion of the cavity in said first mold member and of the object-forming surface on said second mold member.

2. In a mold for forming a lamp shade having a body comprising a, wall which is curved longitudinally and transversely and terminates in an edge which is in substantially the same plane throughout its periphery and having at one end a hollow cylindrical neck which opens into the cavity in the body, the axis of said neck being substantially parallel to the plane of the edge of the wall of said body and being offset therefrom, a first mold member having a cavity opening on the upper face of the member, said cavity having a first portion which substantially conforms to the exterior surface of the body of the shade and having another portion which substantially conforms to the exterior surface of one half of the circumference of the neck of the shade, a second mold member adapted to be secured to the upper face of said first mold member and having in its lower face an object-forming surface adapted to cooperate with the cavity in said first mold member, a portion of the object-forming surface on said second mold member being adapted to form the edge of the wall of the body of a shade and another portion of the object-forming surface on said second mold member being adapted to form the exterior surface of the other one half of the neck of a shade, said second mold member having an opening therein in alignment with the first portion of the cavity in said first mold member, a first plunger which conforms to the shape of the interior of the body of the shade and is adapted to pass through the opening in said second mold member, said first mold member having an opening in the wall thereof in alignment with the axis of the neck portion of the cavity in said first mold member and of the object-forming surface on said second mold member, and a second plunger mounted in said opening in the wall of said first mold member and having an inner end section of the diameter and length of the opening through the neck of a shade, said second plunger being movable between a first position in which said inner end section is located within the neck portion of the cavity in said first mold member and of the object-forming surface on said second mold member and a second position in which said inner end section is located outside the neck portion of the cavity in said first mold member and of the objectforming surface on said second mold member.

3. In a mold for forming a lamp shade having a body comprising a wall which is curved longitudinally and transversely and terminates in an edge which is in substantially the same plane throughout its periphery and having at one end a hollow cylindrical neck which opens into the cavity in the body, the axis of said neck being substantially parallel to the plane of the edge of the wall of said body and being offset therefrom, a first and a second separable mold memher having cooperating object-forming surfaces on the confronting faces thereof which together conform to the exterior surfaces of the body and neck of said shade, the line of division between said mold members in the region of the portion of the object-forming surfaces on said mold members which form the neck and adjoining end wall of a shade being substantially in a plane parallel to the plane of the axis of the neckforming portion of the object-forming surfaces on said mold members and intersecting the axis of the neck-forming portion of the object-forming surfaces on said mold members, the line of division between said mold members throughout the remainder of said object-forming surfaces thereon being substantially in the plane of the portion of said object-forming surfaces which form the edge of-the shade, one mold member having an opening in a wall thereof, a first plunger which conforms to the shape of the interior of the body of the shade, said first plunger being adapted to pass through the opening in said one mold member, the other mold member having an opening in the wall thereof in alignment with the axis of the neck-forming portion of the object-forming surfaces on said mold members, and a second plunger mounted in said opening in the wall of said other mold member and having an inner end section of the diameter and length of the opening through the neck of a shade, saidsecond plunger being movable between a first position in which said inner end section is located within the neck-forming portion of the object-formingsurfaces on said first and second mold members and a second position in which said inner end section is located outside the neck-forming portion of the object-forming surfaces on said first and second mold members.

4. In a mold for forming a lamp shade having a body comprising a wall which is curved longitudinally and transversely and terminates in substantially the same plane throughout its periphery and having at one end a hollow cylindrical neck which opens into the cavity inthe body, the axis of said neck being substantially parallel to the plane of the edge of the wall of said body and being ofiset therefrom, a first and a second separable mold member having cooperating object-forming surfaces on the confronting faces thereof which together conform to the exterior surfaces of the body and neck of said shade, the line of division between said mold members in the region of the portion of the object-forming surfaces on said mold members which form the neck and adjoining end wall of a shade-being substantially in a plane parallel to the plane of the axis of the neck-forming portion of the object-forming surfaces on said mold members and intersecting the axis of the neck-forming portion of the object-forming surfaces on said mold members, the line of division between said mold members throughout the remainder of said object-forming surfaces thereon being substantially in the plane of the portion of said object-forming surfaces which form the edge of the shade, one mold member having an opening in a wall thereof, a first plunger which conforms to the shape of the interior ofthe body of the shade and has on the side facing the opening through the neck-forming portion of the object-forming surfaces on said moldmembers a fiat face which is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the neck-forming portion of the object-forming surfaces on said mold members, said first plunger being adapted to pass through the opening in said one mold member, the other mold member having an opening in the wall thereof in alignment with the axis of the neck-forming portion of the object-forming surfaces on said mold members, and a second plunger mounted in said opening in the wall of said other mold member and having an inner end section of the diameter and length of the opening through the neck of ashade, said second plunger being movable to a first position in which said inner end section is located within the neckforming portion of the object-forming surfaces on said first and second mold members with the end face of said second plunger substantially in the plane of the flat face on said first plunger when said first plunger is in position in said mold, said second plunger also being movable to a second position in which the inner end section of the plunger is located outside the neckforming portion of the object-forming surfaces on said mold members.

ALEXANDER J. EMMENEGGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 256,663 Feurhake et al Apr. 18, 1882 1,602,012 Gooch et al Oct. 5, 1926 

